UCLA's Tony Parker has chance to throw his weight around

At 6 feet 9 and 275 pounds, Parker is UCLA's lone true big man - an asset that, if developed, would solve one of the Bruins' most glaring problems. But for most of the season, a combination of poor health and inconsistent play has kept him from becoming a frontcourt salve.

That changed Sunday, when he pick-and-rolled his way to eight first-half points in a 75-59 win at USC. When UCLA tips off against Arizona State at 8:30 p.m. today, the freshman will get another chance to earn minutes.

"It's just teaching him to play with physicality," coach Ben Howland said. "He's got a great lower body. He's got good strength. He's got good hands."

Parker, who was unhappy earlier this season with homesickness, has been the subject of much fan outcry. His potential is tantalizing; the Georgia product draws cheers whenever he gets off the bench but has only logged double-digit minutes seven times this season.

Coming off his best performance in conference play, he said he feels fine and is having fun.

Point guard Larry Drew II said after the win at Galen Center he always tells Parker to roll hard on picks - something the forward/center finally did with success against the Trojans.

"He finally got to play," star freshman Shabazz Muhammad said. "I knew that game was coming for him. We told him, `You're gonna play about 20 minutes.' He went out and played really hard.

"Tony's such a big body and he finally used it against SC. It was really hard for them to get over him."

The Bruins' young big man may be thrown against 7-foot-2 Jordan Bachynski in the low post. The Arizona State center averages 3.7 blocks per game, but has played inconsistently since erupting for 22 points and 15 rebounds against UCLA last month.

Parker said that game was anomalous, but added going up against Bachynski will be a challenge.

"It is, but it works in my favor because he's tall and long," said Parker, who picked up two fouls in 13 minutes against the Sun Devils in their last meeting. "I'm short and I'm kind of wider.

"It's going to be easier for me than it is for him."

Wear `doubtful'

Howland isn't counting on forward Travis Wear to return today. The junior starter sat out UCLA's win at USC on Sunday with a sprained foot.

The team's third-leading scorer (11.6 points) and second-leading rebounder (5.4) also missed last month's game at Arizona State with a concussion.

The Bruins were out-rebounded 78-60 in Tempe.

"It's a huge factor," Howland said of Wear's absence. "To have one of our best players, one of our leading scorers, a guy that's played well all year long, come out of the lineup is tough. He's obviously a very good player and a guy that on a given night can get you 20 points."

Pink eye healing

Muhammad's eye finally is opening up again after swelling up with pink eye last week. The freshman swingman shot just 2 of 7 from the field at USC on Sunday, and said his condition was a factor.

"It seemed unproportionate," Muhammad said of his vision. "Couldn't really see out of my right eye. But it's really open now, so I'll be fine tomorrow."

UCLA's leading scorer soon will get a set of prescription goggles to wear in practice, but he plans to wear contacts in games.

Muhammad also was named Tuesday to the midseason top-30 list for the Naismith Award, given annually to the nation's top player. Cal guard Allen Crabbe was the only other Pac-12 player to make the cut.